Japan Commemorates 2024 New Year's Day Earthquake

SUZU, JAPAN - JANUARY 01: People pray for the victims of the Noto Peninsula earthquake while watching the sunrise on New Year’s Day at the Mitsukeshima Island beach on January 01, 2025 in Suzu, Japan. On January 1st, 2024, a powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck Japan's Noto Peninsula, resulting in significant destruction, over 280 fatalities, and damage to more than 83,000 homes. The earthquake was characterized by a rare "dual-initiation mechanism," where seismic activity began almost simultaneously at two points on the fault, leading to intense ground shaking and a series of aftershocks that complicated recovery efforts. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe/Getty Images)